Clutch construction



y 9, 1933- E. E. WEMP CLUTCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2, 1931 mp M 01 MM D A TTORNEYS Patented May 9, 1933 I I i UNITED STATES PATENT ornca Application filed Ianuary 2, am. Serial in. 500,012.

This .inventionrelates to clutch construcable axially so that the clutch ma be contion and especially one of the e used in trolled for releasing or engaging t e driven automotive vehicles although it is-to be ap disc. Ppreciated that the clutch may be used wher- To thus axially shift the pressure ring ever 1 power transmission is desired. The against the action of the packin springs principal object of the invention is an imthe same is equipped with a num er of studs proved construction which embodies the 15 associated with levers 16, and on the end mounting-er carrying of a clutch member of the studs may be nuts 17. Each of the in such manner as topermit relative movelevers fulcrum on the cover-plate as at the ments between certain of the clutch members point 18 and may be held against nuts 17 by for clutch control, and which serves to mainsprings 19. As shown in Fig. 2, there may be tain the movable member in centered or balthree of such levers, and when they are rocked anced condition}; clockwise (Fig. 1) the pressure ring 9 is re- Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view taken tracted and the packing springs 10 com- 15 through a clutch construction embodying the pressed and the clutch released. To eng e present invention. the clutch, the levers are freed and the pati- Fig. 2 is a face view with some parts out mg springs return the pressure ring to clutch away and some in section. engaged position.

Fig. 3 isa view which depicts the carry- 0 much of the clutch construction is subing members for a. movable clutch part show- ]ect to large variation, as the flywheel, coverin one position which may be assumed; plate, pressure ring and actuating means may I %i 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing be dlflerently designed both as regards the meter sition. individual elements and the manner of their Referring now to the drawing: association. The matter of particular im- Th fl heel of an engine is illustrated portance involves the mounting and carrying 7 at land secured to the flywheel is a clutch of the pressure ring. to permit of its axial cover-plate 2. The attachment may embody shifting movement to thesubstantial eliminaparts comprising a flange 3 on the cover fitted tion of friction in this action and at the same into a. recess4in the flywheel withcap screws time to' permlt of straight line axial move- 8 5 taken throughthe flange. The details of merit. y I 0 such mounting need not be further described The pressure plate may be carried by one herein; suflice to say that in a copending apof the relatively fixed members, that is, the plication Serial No. 504,841, filed December flywheel or cover-plate, while if carried by 35 26, 1930, the details of such a cover-plate the cover plate it is indirectly carried by mountin andrflywheel are set forth, and the the flywheel, and flexible devices are propresent ywheel cover-plate construction may vided for this purpose which flex to emit follow that of the said application. Howof axial movement. 'Moreover, the exible ever the resent invention is independent of members are. so arranged to permit of the detalls of; the mounting and flywheel, straight line movement of the points of concover-plate construction. nection between the pressure plate and the A driven hub 6, which isadapted tobe reflexible carrying member. In the present ceived upon a driven shaft is provided with form two properlv associated flexible mema driven d sc 7 with clutch l'ucinzy Mariel hers are prnvided, one being shown at 20, and is. A clutch pressure ring'is shown at 9 acted the other at 21'; These may be in the form upon by packing springs 10 which are backed of metal plates or sheet metal members. The up by the cover plate and serve to urge the member QOwhich may be termed the inner pressure ring toward the fly wheelso that the one'may be of triangle shape,'as illustrated facing material 8 of, the driven disc is fricin Fig. 2, secured at its apex to the pressure 50 tionally engaged between the fly wheel and ring. For this'purpose the studs 15, which pressure ring. The pressure ring is shiftserve for lever attachment, may be utilized,

' er at or near the points of attachment 23.

plate 21 may be cut away or slotted, asat'24r,

to permit the stud 15 to pass therethrough and to reciprocate in regard thereto.

These two plates 20 and21 may be normal-,

ly flat; that is to say, when secured together by rivets 23 and before attachment to pressure ring and cover plate, respectively, they may lie flush with each other. In the axial shifting of the pressure plate these two. members move toward and away from each other much as if'they were fulcrumed to-each oth- This is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the clutch is engaged the two members are slight- I ly spread apart after the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 by reason of the pressure plate being urged up against the driven disc by the packing springs 10. As the pressure plate is retracted however by actuation of the levers 16 the members approach each other after the manner illustrated in Fig. 4; thus, it is that the pressure ring may be held positively in centered or balanced condition, while at the same time members 20 and Q1 permit of axial shifting. Where the shiftable member, such as the pressure plate 9 is mounted to axially shift upon pins or guideways, sufficient clearance must be provided for ease of operation and to take care of expansion and contraction due to heat changes. This clearance permits the member to shift radially with the result that it is not maintained accurately balanced or centered. With the resent construction, however, although it IS permitted to shift axially it is positively held from radial shifting. Moreover, friction which would occur between the shifted member and its guide devices or pins, is eliminated and this is advantageous because such friction increases as the clutch engages and picks up the load thus requiring the packing springs to overcome this added friction. By thus eliminating any frictional sliding action high efficiency is obtained in the packmg springs.

The pressure ring is rigid and of necessity the points of connection between the pressure ring and plates 20 must move in a straight line. The present construction readily permits of this; as shown in Fig. 3 where the members 20 'and 21 are relatively widely separated the points of connection 23 shift slightly outwardly, or at any rate, it is slightly outward from the position 'shown in Fig. 4. When the members 20 and 21:

proach each other, as in the disengaging of the clutch the pomts of connection 23 are free to shift slightly inwardly. Thus it is that while the free ends of the members 20 and 21 are rigidly held by cover-plate and pressure ring, respectively, the points of connection between the twoare floating, so to speak,'and capable of shifting as the stud 15 shiftsaxially in a straight line. Thus, there is no binding or cramping tendency incident to the straight line shifting of the points of connection between members 20 and the pressure ring. As above stated, the members 20 and 21 may normally be flush with each other, in which case they wouldalways be under slight tension as shownin position in Figs. 3 and/l. However, it is feasible and within thei-nvention to suitably shape the members 20 and 21 so that normally. they assume a position similar to that of Fig.3 or Fig. 4.

I claim: r

1. In a clutch, the combination of two clutch members, one shiftable axially with respect to the other, means entirely supporting one member from the other and adapted to hold the said one member against relative radial shifting, said means comprising-flexible metal plates secured together and s aced from each other away from the point 0 said securing, and means for securing the flexible metal plates, respectively, to the two clutch members. a,

2. In. a clutch, the combination of two clutch members, one shiftable axially with respect to the other, means entirely supporting one member from'the other and adapted to hold the said one member against relative radial shifting, said means comprising flexible metal plates secured together and spaced from each otheriawayfrom the point of said securing, and means for securing the flexible metal plates, respectively, to the two clutch members wherebyas the two clutch members shift axially the points of connection between theflexible plate members may shift radially to permit of straight line axial shifting as between the said two clutch members.

3;'In;a clutch, the combination of a flywheel or'the like, a clutch cover-plate, a flexjblelplateof generally rectangular shape Se--' cured-fixedly to the cover-plate and extending radially inwardly, an axially shiftable pressure ring, means for shifting the same, a flexible plate of generally triangular shape fixedly secured at its apex to the ressure ring and extending radially inwar means fixedl securing said two plates togetherat a radia ly inward point, said rectangular plate being provided with a notch, and means projecting from the pressure plate through said notch and adapted to be controlled by said means ftlirt'efi'ecting axial shifting of the pressure P a 4. In a clutch, the combination of two clutch members, a plurality of circumferentially arranged, spaced, flexible, plate members, means connecting said plate members to one of the clutch members at at least two points, said plate being disposed substantially radially, a cooperatmg plate for each of the first mentione plates, means securing said coo crating plates with the first men tioned ates at at least two points and adjacent t e edges of the plates, said cooperatmg plates being disposed so as to substantial- 1y face the first mentioned plates, and means connecting each cooperating plate at a single point of connection with the other of said clutchamembers whereby said plates constitute a torque resisting drive connection between said members, the portions of the plates connected to said clutch members being normally spaced apart and adapted to be flexed toward and away from each other in the relative axial shifting of the clutch members.

5. In a clutch, the combination of two clutch members rotatable with each other and capable of relative axial shifting, a plurality of pairs of plates circumferentiall arranged in spaced relation, said plates eing disposed su stantially radially, one of said plates being substantiall rectangular and the other of said plates eing substantially triangular in shape, means securing two corners of the rectangular plate to one clutch member, means securing the other two corners of the rectangular plate to two corners of the triangular plate, and means securing the a x of the triangular plate to the other clutc member, said plate members serving to support one clutch member from the other and establish a drive connection 7 between them, the apex of the triangular plate being normally axially spaced from the ad'acent edge of the rectangular plate and sai edge and apex being ada ted to shift toward and.

away from each ot er in the relative axial movement of the clutch members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

ERNEST E. W 

